FORMER IBF World minimumweight champion Rene Mark “Mighty Mouse” Cuarto will fight Ginjiro Shigeoka of Japan for the vacant IBF Interim Minimumweight title on Saturday, April 16 in Tokyo, Japan.
They will fight because the reigning IBF minimumweight world champion Mexican Daniel "Cejitas" Valladares (26-3-1, 15 KO's) has filed for a medical exception.
Cuarto is ranked number three while Shigeoka is rated no. 4. The no. 1 and 2 are still vacant.
The 26-year-old Cuarto of Jose Dalman, Zamboanga del Norte has been working out at MP Pacquiao Gym Davao since last January.
“We were waiting for the order from the IBF,” said Cuarto.
It was made by Sean Gibbons of MP Promotions. Cuarto will also leave together with his manager and head coach Nonoy Neri, Neri's wife Vanessa and assistant coach Vincent Dayaganon.
No exact date was given yet.
“I'm excited for my fight in Japan,” said Cuarto.
Cuarto was formerly the IBF World minimumweight title holder when he dethroned Pedro Taduran of Albay by a unanimous decision last February 27, 2021 in General Santos City.
He also defeated Taduran in a rematch by a technical decision last February 6, 2022 in Digos City.
But in his second title defense, Cuarto lost by a split decision to Daniel Valladares last July 1, 2022 in San Nicolas delos Garza, Mexico.
Cuarto then made a comeback by scoring a knockout against Dexter Alimento in the 2nd round last December 23, 2022 in Davao City.
Cuarto has 21 wins, three loses with two draws and 12 knockouts while the undefeated Shigeoka has eight wins with six knockouts.
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